A1 Idiom तटस्थ

몸이 안 좋다

momi an jota

body is not good

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use this phrase to politely say you're feeling unwell, sick, or just physically 'off' without being too specific.

  • Means: 'I'm not feeling well' or 'My body isn't in good shape.'
  • Used in: Work, school, or social settings to cancel plans or explain low energy.
  • Don't confuse: With '기분이 안 좋다' which means you are in a bad mood.
👤 (Body) + ❌ (Not) + 👍 (Good) = 🤒 (Unwell)

Explanation at your level:

This is a very basic and important phrase. 'Mom' means body. 'An' means not. 'Jota' means good. So, 'My body is not good.' Use this when you feel sick or tired. It is a polite way to tell your teacher or friends that you need to rest.
At this level, you can use the phrase to give reasons for your actions. By adding '-아서' (because), you can say '몸이 안 좋아서 학교에 못 가요' (I can't go to school because I'm not feeling well). It's a general term for any physical discomfort, from a cold to just being very tired.
Intermediate learners should note the nuance between this and '아프다'. While '아프다' means 'to hurt' or 'to be in pain,' '몸이 안 좋다' describes a general state of poor health or low condition. It is frequently used in professional settings to excuse oneself from work or social gatherings without providing overly personal medical details.
Upper-intermediate students should master the various registers of this phrase. In formal business contexts, '몸 상태가 좋지 않습니다' (My body condition is not good) might be used for extra precision. You should also recognize it as a common social euphemism used to decline invitations politely while maintaining social harmony ({인화|人和}).
At an advanced level, one must appreciate the psychosomatic implications of the phrase. In Korean discourse, '몸이 안 좋다' often bridges the gap between physical ailment and mental burnout. It reflects the cultural tendency to somatize stress—where emotional exhaustion is expressed through physical symptoms, making it a vital phrase for understanding Korean workplace dynamics and the 'burnout' phenomenon.
Near-native mastery involves understanding the pragmatic 'weight' of the phrase in different power dynamics. For instance, a subordinate using this phrase to a superior requires a specific apologetic intonation and often follows up with a promise to recover quickly. It also involves recognizing the phrase's role in literary and cinematic contexts as a foreshadowing device for more serious underlying issues, reflecting the deep-seated cultural anxiety regarding health and productivity.

मतलब

To be unwell or not feeling healthy.

🌍

सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि

In Korean workplaces, saying '몸이 안 좋다' is often a prerequisite for leaving early. It is considered more polite than saying 'I am tired.' The phrase relates to the concept of 'Gi' (energy). When your body is 'not good,' it means your energy flow is blocked or weak. Koreans rarely ask for specific details when someone says '몸이 안 좋다.' It is a signal to give that person space and rest. On KakaoTalk, this phrase is often accompanied by a 'sick' emoji (🤒) to soften the impact of canceling plans.

🎯

Add '좀' for Naturalness

Always add '좀' (jom) before '안 좋다' to sound more like a native speaker. It softens the statement.

⚠️

Don't use with Elders

If talking to your grandfather, use '편찮으세요' instead of '몸이 안 좋으세요'.

मतलब

To be unwell or not feeling healthy.

🎯

Add '좀' for Naturalness

Always add '좀' (jom) before '안 좋다' to sound more like a native speaker. It softens the statement.

⚠️

Don't use with Elders

If talking to your grandfather, use '편찮으세요' instead of '몸이 안 좋으세요'.

💬

The 'Excuse' Power

This is the most polite way to say 'no' to a social invitation in Korea without explaining why.

💡

Past Tense

If you are explaining why you missed something yesterday, remember to use '안 좋았어요'.

खुद को परखो

Fill in the correct subject marker.

오늘 몸__ 안 좋아요.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: 이

'몸' ends in a consonant, so '이' is the correct subject marker.

Which phrase is best for canceling a meeting because you have a cold?

회의에 못 가요. _______.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: 몸이 안 좋아요

'몸이 안 좋아요' is the standard way to say you are sick.

Complete the dialogue with the most natural response.

A: 얼굴이 안 좋네요. 어디 아파요? B: 네, 어제부터 ________.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: 몸이 안 좋아요

B is confirming they are unwell since yesterday.

Match the situation to the correct phrase.

You are extremely tired after working 12 hours.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: 몸이 안 좋아요

This phrase covers fatigue from overwork.

🎉 स्कोर: /4

विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स

몸 vs 기분

몸이 안 좋다
Sick Physical
Tired Physical
기분이 안 좋다
Sad Emotional
Angry Emotional

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल

12 सवाल

Yes, it is often used as a euphemism for feeling depressed or burnt out when you don't want to be specific.

Yes, as long as you use the formal '-습니다' or '-어요' ending. It is very professional.

'아프다' is 'to hurt' (specific pain). '몸이 안 좋다' is 'to be unwell' (general state).

Absolutely. It is the standard polite way to describe a hangover at work.

The most common response is '푹 쉬세요' (Please rest well) or '어디가 안 좋으세요?' (Where does it feel bad?).

No, it sounds very unnatural. Always use '안 좋다'.

No, it usually refers to minor illnesses like a cold or fatigue.

No, for injuries, use the specific body part + '아프다' or '다치다'.

Because '몸' ends in a consonant (ㅁ).

No, it is a standard idiom used by all ages.

Yes, it is a polite way to show concern for a customer who looks tired.

You can still use it. Fatigue is considered a valid form of '몸이 안 좋다' in Korea.

संबंधित मुहावरे

🔗

아프다

similar

To be in pain/sick

🔗

몸살이 나다

specialized form

Aching all over from fatigue

🔗

기운이 없다

similar

To have no energy

🔗

컨디션이 안 좋다

similar

To be in bad condition

🔗

편찮으시다

specialized form

To be unwell (honorific)

कहाँ इस्तेमाल करें

💼

Calling in sick to work

Employee: 부장님, 오늘 몸이 안 좋아서 출근을 못 할 것 같습니다.

Manager: 그래요? 무리하지 말고 푹 쉬세요.

formal
💔

Canceling a date

Person A: 미안해, 오늘 몸이 좀 안 좋아서 못 나갈 것 같아.

Person B: 괜찮아. 약 먹고 좀 쉬어. 다음에 보자.

informal
💊

At the pharmacy

Customer: 어제부터 몸이 좀 안 좋아서 왔어요.

Pharmacist: 어디가 어떻게 안 좋으세요? 열이 나나요?

neutral
🏫

In a classroom

Student: 선생님, 몸이 안 좋아서 보건실에 가고 싶어요.

Teacher: 그래, 얼굴이 안 좋네. 빨리 가 봐.

formal
🏠

To a spouse/partner

Husband: 나 오늘 몸이 좀 안 좋네. 저녁은 시켜 먹을까?

Wife: 그래, 당신 요즘 너무 바빴어. 내가 주문할게.

informal
🍺

Declining a drink

Colleague: 오늘 2차도 가야지!

You: 죄송해요, 제가 오늘 몸이 좀 안 좋아서 먼저 들어갈게요.

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Mom' (몸) as your body. If your 'Mom' is 'An' (Not) 'Jota' (Good), you need a nap!

Visual Association

Imagine a battery icon that is flashing red and at 5%. The battery is the 'Mom' (body), and the red flashing is the 'An Jota' (not good) state.

Rhyme

Mom-i an jota, stay on the sofa!

Story

A student named Min-su worked too hard on his Korean homework. His 'Mom' (body) started to feel heavy like a stone. He told his teacher, 'Mom-i an jota,' and the teacher gave him a warm ginger tea and let him sleep.

Word Web

건강 (Health)병원 (Hospital)약 (Medicine)휴식 (Rest)피곤하다 (To be tired)아프다 (To be sick)감기 (Cold)

चैलेंज

Try to use this phrase in a text message to a friend today to explain why you are tired, even if you aren't actually sick!

In Other Languages

Spanish high

No me encuentro bien

Spanish focuses on the 'self' (me), while Korean focuses on the 'body' (몸).

French high

Je ne me sens pas bien

French emphasizes the act of feeling, whereas Korean states the condition of the body as a fact.

German moderate

Ich fühle mich nicht wohl

German 'wohl' is slightly more abstract than the Korean 'body' focus.

Japanese high

具合が悪い (Guai ga warui)

Japanese uses 'condition' (具合) more often than 'body' (体) in this specific idiom.

Arabic moderate

أنا لست بخير (Ana lastu bikhayr)

Arabic is more general and can refer to one's overall situation, not just physical health.

Chinese high

身体不舒服 (Shēntǐ bù shūfú)

Chinese uses 'uncomfortable' (不舒服), while Korean uses 'not good' (안 좋다).

English partial

Under the weather

The English version is a metaphor (weather), while the Korean version is a direct description of the body's state.

Portuguese high

Não estou me sentindo bem

Like other Romance languages, it uses the reflexive 'feeling' rather than the 'body' as the subject.

Easily Confused

몸이 안 좋다 बनाम 기분이 안 좋다

Learners confuse 'body' (몸) with 'mood' (기분).

Remember: 'Mom' is for your physical self, 'Gibun' is for your feelings.

몸이 안 좋다 बनाम 머리가 안 좋다

Can mean 'to have a headache' or 'to be unintelligent.'

Use '머리가 아프다' for a headache to avoid being misunderstood as calling yourself 'not smart.'

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (12)

Yes, it is often used as a euphemism for feeling depressed or burnt out when you don't want to be specific.

Yes, as long as you use the formal '-습니다' or '-어요' ending. It is very professional.

'아프다' is 'to hurt' (specific pain). '몸이 안 좋다' is 'to be unwell' (general state).

Absolutely. It is the standard polite way to describe a hangover at work.

The most common response is '푹 쉬세요' (Please rest well) or '어디가 안 좋으세요?' (Where does it feel bad?).

No, it sounds very unnatural. Always use '안 좋다'.

No, it usually refers to minor illnesses like a cold or fatigue.

No, for injuries, use the specific body part + '아프다' or '다치다'.

Because '몸' ends in a consonant (ㅁ).

No, it is a standard idiom used by all ages.

Yes, it is a polite way to show concern for a customer who looks tired.

You can still use it. Fatigue is considered a valid form of '몸이 안 좋다' in Korea.

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